By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter
OMAHA (DTN) -- Average fertilizer prices were a mixed bag the second week of November 2017 with the majority moving higher and a couple moving lower, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.
Six of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month, with only two up a significant amount. UAN32 was 7% higher compared to the previous month with an average price of $272 per ton. UAN28 was 5% higher from last month and was at $216/ton.
The remaining four fertilizers were just slightly higher in price. DAP had an average price of $434/ton, MAP $459/ton, urea $338/ton and anhydrous $409/ton.
Two fertilizers were lower in price compared to a month earlier -- one by a considerable amount; 10-34-0 was down 13% from last month with an average price of $355/ton. Potash was just slightly lower with an average price of $341/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.37/lb.N, anhydrous $0.25/lb.N, UAN28 $0.39/lb.N and UAN32 $0.42/lb.N.
Fertilizer manufacturer Mosaic Company will stop production at a Florida plant in an effort to jumpstart stalled sales, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article.
The company recently announced it will idle its Plant City, Florida, concentrates plant for at least a year. Mosaic's Saudi Arabian phosphate-production joint venture is expected to help ensure there are not market disruptions from the move, the company said.
"Mosaic is taking proactive steps to accelerate business performance," said Chief Executive Joc O'Rourke in prepared remarks. "While these decisions are difficult and have impacts on our employees, today's actions put Mosaic in a strong position to benefit as market dynamics improve."
Five fertilizers are now higher compared to last year. DAP is 1% higher, MAP is 2% more expensive, urea is 5% higher, UAN32 is 6% more expensive and potash is now 9% more expensive.
The remaining three fertilizers are lower compared to a year prior. UAN28 is 1% less expensive while anhydrous is 13% lower and 10-34-0 is 21% less expensive.
DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.
DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.
Retail fertilizer charts dating back to 2010 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
| DRY |
| Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
| Nov 7-11 2016 | 429 | 449 | 314 | 323 |
| Dec 5-9 2016 | 434 | 443 | 318 | 333 |
| Jan 2-6 2017 | 431 | 442 | 322 | 339 |
| Jan 30-Feb 3 2017 | 430 | 448 | 329 | 353 |
| Feb 27-Mar 03 2017 | 436 | 458 | 335 | 361 |
| Mar 27-31 2017 | 438 | 465 | 338 | 356 |
| Apr 24-28 2017 | 437 | 466 | 338 | 352 |
| May 22-26 2017 | 436 | 471 | 340 | 343 |
| Jun 19-23 2017 | 436 | 470 | 340 | 333 |
| Jul 17-21 2017 | 435 | 464 | 339 | 309 |
| Aug 14-18 2017 | 434 | 460 | 338 | 305 |
| Sep 11-15 2017 | 431 | 456 | 336 | 310 |
| Oct 9-13 2017 | 432 | 453 | 347 | 325 |
| Nov 6-10 2017 | 434 | 459 | 341 | 338 |
| LIQUID |
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| Nov 7-11 2016 | 447 | 468 | 217 | 256 |
| Dec 5-9 2016 | 445 | 463 | 219 | 257 |
| Jan 2-6 2017 | 436 | 465 | 218 | 255 |
| Jan 30-Feb 3 2017 | 439 | 482 | 236 | 270 |
| Feb 27-Mar 03 2017 | 440 | 502 | 246 | 279 |
| Mar 27-31 2017 | 441 | 508 | 248 | 279 |
| Apr 24-28 2017 | 437 | 509 | 247 | 280 |
| May 22-26 2017 | 436 | 503 | 249 | 280 |
| Jun 19-23 2017 | 435 | 497 | 243 | 273 |
| Jul 17-21 2017 | 425 | 425 | 229 | 265 |
| Aug 14-18 2017 | 419 | 419 | 216 | 251 |
| Sep 11-15 2017 | 416 | 412 | 210 | 248 |
| Oct 9-13 2017 | 413 | 397 | 206 | 253 |
| Nov 6-10 2017 | 355 | 409 | 216 | 272 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
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